All Saints Messenger May 3. 2018

If you jump into a swimming pool you will get wet. It's not that if you jump in you will prove that you are worthy to get wet and therefore will be granted wetness. No, it's just the way it works. Jesus said if we keep his commandments--love God and love each other--we will find ourselves abiding in Christ--a place of abundant life and complete joy. That's just the way it works. It's hard to love as Jesus loved, though--to put yourself aside for the good of the other, especially to the point of sacrifice and suffering. But Jesus chose us for this and gave us the command so that we could love one another. We love--we abide; we abide--we love.

Lord, sometimes you talk in circles. It's a circle of love. Help us to color inside the lines of your love, which has no boundaries, so it shouldn't be too hard for us! Amen.